SOC 53-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Air Traffic Controllers — Michigan
Michigan · 1 metro areas compared
In Michigan the median wage is $118,930.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Michigan the median wage is $118,930. That is 19.7% lower than the national median of $148,080. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $99,610 and $178,590. The lowest tenth earn under $80,430, while the highest tenth earn more than $205,380.
The area has 360 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Michigan ranks 30th by median wage. Detroit leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $178,310. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 56th of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,430 | −45.7% |
| 25th | $99,610 | −32.7% |
| Median (50th) | $118,930 | −19.7% |
| 75th | $178,590 | +20.6% |
| 90th | $205,380 | +38.7% |
| Mean | $134,670 | −9.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $178,310 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $118,930 goes as far as $123,628 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$118,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$123,628US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $118,930 a year, 19.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $80,430 to $205,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 360 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 30th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $178,310.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Air Traffic Controllers in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $118,930, or $57.18 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $148,080, so pay in Michigan is 19.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Michigan earns more than $205,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $80,430 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Detroit, at $178,310 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 360 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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